Box Score
NEWARK, NJ—NJIT lost in three sets to Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association foe Saint Francis, 30-22, 30-27, and 30-26 in the opening match of the 2010 Golden Dome Classic hosted by neighbor Rutgers-Newark Friday afternoon.
The youthful Highlanders are winless three matches into the young season, while the win boosts Saint Francis to 4-1 in 2010. Saint Francis is ranked 15th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll. The Red Flash play n the Tait Division of the EIVA, while NJIT is in the EIVA Hay Division this year.
Sophomore Glen DeMagalhaes paced the attack for NJIT, notching 12 kills, with just one error in 22 attempts for a strong .500 hitting percentage. Freshman Christian Puszies contributed eight kills to the Highlanders cause.
Sophomore Adam Gustafson and freshman Matthew Lui divided the setting chores for NJIT and Gustafson came away with 21 assists, while Lui collected 15 assists.
Three different Highlanders came up with a service ace apiece, while freshman Doug Battersby led the blocking with seven total. He had both of NJIT's block solos and added five block assists. On the floor, freshman Brady Smith accounted for 10 of his team's 40 digs.
For victorious Saint Francis, senior Jordan Varee checked in with 12 kills, followed by 11 for classmate Nick Rivett. Sophomore setter Ryan Williams passed for 36 assists, while Varee served three aces and his cohort, Rivett, served two. Junior libero Seth Katich had a match-best 19 digs, while Rivett and senior Patrick McManamon each posted four block assists.
Saint Francis never trailed in posting its easiest win of the three sets, taking the first frame, 30-22. The second set was close all the way, with neither team leading by more than a pair of points until the Red Flash went up, 21-18. Holding a 24-21 advantage, Saint Francis spurted to a 27-21 lead. The Highlanders ran off three straight points of their own and later trimmed the deficit to 27-29 before finally losing. The winners jumped out 5-1 to open the third set and later went up 18-10, but NJIT dominated the middle of the set, 13-7, and closed to within two points, 23-25, on a kill for De Magalhaes. But Saint Francis regained control with 3-0 run that helped seal the set and match.
Next up for the Highlanders is day two play in the Golden Dome Classic, which will pit NJIT against Lewis, which competes in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Lewis is also the alma mater (Class of 2001) of NJIT head coach Ryan McNeil, who played for Lewis and also began his coaching career at the Illinois school.
The match is slated for a 4:30 pm start on Saturday in the Golden Dome Arena at Rutgers-Newark.
